Oh well, do what you know! And this is awesome…”Psych Yourself Skinny” is a deliciously brutal look at your FAT self, with a 28-day schedule of meditations, freestyle dance tips, meal ideas, daily “skinny” psych sessions, explicit visual motivators and blunt advice on how to make a big change, real fast.

“Psych Yourself Skinny started out as a weight loss program written for my eyes only,” says Sharon Geisen Hayes, the author, “but then it evolved into a funny little entertainment book full of laughs that I wanted to share with others who face the same struggle with weight control. It has solid weight loss advice, but it’s also for those who can laugh at themselves and not take ‘the diet thing’ too serious.”

In a season of countless media events and endless amounts of martinis and fried balls (I’m not talking dirty here, it’s the life of a socialite), this book really helped to spark my psyche and bridge my fat mentality with my skinny soul.

Check it out here: www.psychyourselfskinny.com/.

Image: Psych Yourself Skinny

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To me, Cosmo was sort of my beauty bible — and now they’ve published a comprehensive bible of their own. COSMO’S SEXIEST BEAUTY SECRETS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LOOKING GORGEOUS (Hearst Books; November 4, 2008).

The book offers hundreds of insider tips and tricks on everything from scoring a flawless complexion to creating a ton of hairstyles to working the latest make up trends. There’s plenty of pointers drawing in our “prey”, including: the secrets to getting silky, touchable hair, captivating eyes, and soft, full lips.

Also in here: Decadent at-home spa ideas that advise women how to pamper themselves like a pro. And since every beauty junkie is bound to make a misstep now and then, Cosmo included crucial tips for overcoming common beauty blunders.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find inside:

- Shrink a zit instantly by dabbing it with toner then placing an ice-cube (wrapped in tissue) on the bump for one minute. Last, use a spot-treatment product before dotting on concealer.

- Get the shiniest hair imaginable by using an at-home clear gloss treatment, which will infuse your strands with potent polishers like silicone, jojoba oil, and vitamin E.

- Make your eyes look larger by rimming the inside of your lids with white liner. Then define your upper and lower lashes with a charcoal liner and finish with three coats of black mascara.

- Fake the look of fuller lips by blending a thin line of liquid highlighter along your cupid’s bow so light will bounce off it and play up this curvy area.

I love this book so much that I want to share it with my friends (though I hope that I still become the most beautiful from it, of course). Two readers will each win a copy. To win, please share your own sexy beauty secret! (We won’t tell anyone…except the millions who read the comment.) Deadline November 28.

Photo credit: Hearst Books

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As I pen this introduction, I am readying myself to hit the skies…not for vacation (alas) but to explore the spa and beauty regimes at a hotel and spa in Los Angeles.

Most certainly indulgent, and not entirely sane (there are probably more responsible ways to spend the final days before an election when the nation’s economy is in shambles…), it is actually pretty reflective of my very existence.

I’m not shallow, I am just goal-oriented…and said goal is to make everyone around me as pretty and well informed as can be!

My name is Aly Walansky, and I am an avowed beauty product junkie.

And so, when I was approached to take over eBeautyDaily, I got a little hyper excited and nearly plotzed in my non-sensible Betsey Johnson booties.

To all my friends and readers who already know me from my iVillage and SheKnows columns, thanks so much for the continued support! To my new friends, it’s so nice to meet you! Please visit me daily, every morning I will post beauty product reviews, tips, and advice – and, every few days, contests where you can walk away with valuable freebies!

To start things off, I have decided to buy your friendship and continued readership.

One reader will win an autographed copy of Nick Arrojo’s new – and awesome – book, Great Hair. I will be writing more about this book – and referring to it often – in the days and weeks to come, but if you want a head start this holiday season at being the hottest girl in the zip code (as I aspire to be), this is a great way to start.

Nick Arrojo – whom I admit to having a tremendous crush on – is sort of the yoda of the hair industry, and in this book, shares his secrets! “In this book you will find my voice, my vision, and all of the advice I willingly and happily share with anyone who seeks me out, sits in my chair, and asks me for help. I hope it inspires you to be confident and beautiful; sexy and happy!” Arrojo says.

To have your chance to win the book, please share with us the most awful thing that has occurred in your own life, during your pursuit of great hair. Did your locks melt? Did your flaxen roots become a nasty ashen green? Share! Your sorrow can also be your reward!

Deadline November 5.

Photo credit: ArrojoProduct.com

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So I got my copy of Nina Garcia’s The One Hundred yesterday.  What an incredibly nice book.  Im not sure why I was surprised by how nice it was, other than the price is so right, I wasn’t expecting such a thick, heavy book.   MSRP is $21.95, but Amazon has it right now for $13.97 – go snatch it!

I made it through about the first 30 items last night, and well, I need to shop.  I did see the darned Birken page in there, although I haven’t made it that far in the book yet – should have known she wouldn’t leave that out!

Particularly notable in this book are the illustrations by Ruben Toledo.  If I am not mistaken, he did the illustrations for her last book, and quite honestly, the book is worth having just to see those.  But there is so much more to enjoy about the book – its a great addition to your collection of books – its a quick light read, and once again, the personal side of Nina Garcia is totally enchanting.  I hope you will get it and please do let me know what you think – I hope you will agree with me!

Image: Amazon

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Following the success of Nina Garcia’s The Little Black Book of Style, she is releasing, on August 26, her newest book:  The One Hundred: A Guide To The Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own.

Did you read The Little Black Book of Style?  I loved it, and loved getting to know Nina a little better – it certainly made me like her a lot more on Project Runway to have a glimpse into her life.  Beyond that, TLBBOS was a great book on fashion basics and classics, which really is totally my style.  The one problem with it?  It put the Hermes fire under me.  Not good. 

So, I am totally looking forward to reading her new book – and really anxious to see how many of these 100 items I actually own.  I am betting about 45.  Gonna be time to go shopping afterwards.  I am hoping that the Birken is not on that list!

Are you going to get this book hot off the press?

Image: Harper Collins

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Michael is a great writer, his style is friendly, yet elegant in a way.  His story is quite amazing – it begins with a move to Spain following a job that never panned out, and then through selling his designer clothing collection on eBay, he discovered the power of obsessed fashionista collectors and then wiggled and jiggled until he found out how to give them what they wanted.  I question a little how much of the story is exaggerated, but regardless, it is a good story.  Very entertaining to this chick who would about kill for a Birkin, and would be a great read for anyone familiar with selling on eBay. 

The book was a teensy bit slow at the beginning, but I got right into it and couldn’t put it down after about the 3rd chapter or so.  

Another great thing?  It comes in a Kindle edition.   Man, I love my Kindle (and the price recently dropped forty bucks to $359).  So thanks Hsien for both recommendations!  And congrats on your gorgeous baby girl (even though you didn’t name her Christina!)!  xoxox

Image:Amazon

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Have you all checked this book out yet?  It is Eye Candy, by Linda Mason.  Linda is a makeup artist and has produced this book of nothing but gorgeous eye designs, page after page of them.  There are absolutely all different skin tones and ethnicities represented in this book, as well as looks that are appropriate for the funky young teenager all the way to us *grownups* (whatever that is), and everything in between. 

The book is small, about 7×7 inches, with around 150 pages.  Each spread has one photographed design, the design drawn out, plus all of the colors and tools you need to create it.  In addition to some eye makeup lessons, as a bonus, in the back are the exact shades from the exact manufacturers used in the book – not necessary to have, but super nice if you see a color in here that totally enraptures you, like I did.  This is a great book to keep with your makeup kit, so you can have some fun on the fly with new looks.  One of the best features is the price, only $10.17 at the moment at Amazon, and well worth every penny.

Do you have this book?  Like it as much as I do?  I keep thinking I’m going to do a video with some of these designs, but I haven’t been feeling very video savvy of late, but who knows.  Care to do one and share it with us?  We would love to see it!!

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So one of the first books I went for, is How To Eat Like A Hot Chick.  Browsed through Skinny Bitch, but it just didn’t speak to me like HTELAHC.  That’s an ugly acronym, btw.

I am nowhere near done with it, but let me just tell you, my best friend and I could have written this book.  I absolutely can totally relate.  This book is not for the – um – folks with delicate sensibilities, it is chock full of f-bombs, bj’s and all sorts of other tawdry “girl-to-girl” talk.  Consider yourself warned. 

That said, so far I am totally digging it – it is sensible and smart eating and exercising along with hilarious dialogue.  I can’t wait to finish it.  Why *o* why didn’t we write this, Suz?  Oh – maybe its because we haven’t figured out the “How to eat like” part – but, by George, we have the “How to Act Like” part down perfectly.

Have you read this??  Spill.

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I hope you all are managing to stay well and healthy – and are using your sunscreen.  I have spent a good bit of time outside this past couple of weeks doing gardening on the weekend and going to soccer games.  Wrinkle city.  And don’t forget, you have until Friday at midnight to enter the Sephora book/goodies contest.  I have a bunch of entries, all of which I hope to get up on the site tomorrow – some great gals with some great beauty bags have joined the contest – I sure hope you will too!

xox

Image:  used with permission from Harper-Collins

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